Retirement doesn’t slow this finance expert down

Carlos Zamora packed up his decades in global banking last week, but retirement won’t last long. Instead of relaxing, he’s diving into a new challenge: running for Kootenai County Treasurer. The election is just days away, and Zamora will face Teresa Mallery in the Republican primary. Whoever wins this race won’t have competition in November. Born in Cuba, Zamora and his family moved to the U. S. in 1966 with almost nothing. He settled in Hayden with his wife Priscilla after years of working in finance around the world. “We started from scratch, ” he said. “This country gave us opportunities we wouldn’t have had anywhere else. ” Now, Zamora is bringing his 40-plus years in banking to a job most people don’t know much about. County treasurers don’t just collect taxes—they also invest unused funds to save money for residents. Zamora argues his background in asset management makes him the perfect fit for this role. “I want to use my experience to help reduce the tax burden, ” he explained.The job isn’t just about investing, though. Treasurers also handle unclaimed property from deceased residents. Zamora admits he’s never dealt with that part before, but he’s confident he can learn fast. “I’ll rely on the team’s expertise, ” he said. “They know the system better than I ever will. ” Zamora isn’t planning to shake things up right away. The current treasurer, Steve Matheson, has built a strong reputation over three terms. Zamora wants to keep the office running smoothly while making small improvements. “Why fix what isn’t broken? ” he asked. Politics plays a role in the election, but Zamora sees the job as mostly practical. “I’m conservative, but I work for everyone, ” he said. “My goal isn’t to push an agenda—it’s to save money where we can. ”